No Intent to Hurt - Konda Surekha’s apology leads Nagarjuna to drop defamation case

Veteran actor Akkineni Nagarjuna has formally withdrawn his criminal defamation complaint against Telangana Forest and Environment Minister Konda Surekha, leading a local magistrate’s court in Hyderabad to close the case. The complaint, filed in October 2024, stemmed from remarks made by the minister that Nagarjuna claimed defamed his family. The controversy began when Surekha, during a public interaction, made comments linking BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) to the much-discussed divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, indirectly drawing the Akkineni family into the controversy.

The statements sparked a wave of criticism across both political and cinematic circles, with members of the Telugu film industry and several leaders condemning the remarks. Nagarjuna responded by filing a criminal defamation case, asserting that the comments had caused reputational harm to his family. The actor later chose to withdraw his complaint by filing a petition under Section 280 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows withdrawal of complaints with court approval. Appearing virtually, Nagarjuna confirmed his decision before the court, which subsequently accepted the withdrawal and officially closed the matter.

Minister Konda Surekha, meanwhile, issued a public apology, clarifying that her statements were never intended to hurt or defame the Akkineni family. In her statement shared on social media, she said, “I had no intention of hurting or defaming Akkineni Nagarjuna Garu or his family members. I regret any unintended impression created by my statements and withdraw the same.” Her apology came after mounting backlash and, according to sources, mediation efforts by senior Congress leaders and figures from the Telugu film industry who sought to defuse tensions.

The withdrawal brings an end to a high-profile dispute that drew attention to the delicate intersection of politics and cinema in Telangana. While the issue between Nagarjuna and Minister Surekha has now been resolved, a separate defamation case filed by K. T. Rama Rao against the minister remains pending. For the Akkineni family, the decision signals a move toward closure, while for the Telangana government, it ends an episode that had caused considerable embarrassment within its ranks.

With apologies issued, the court’s order final, and both sides opting for reconciliation, one of Telangana’s most talked-about controversies bridging the worlds of politics and film has finally drawn to a close.